I hope you're not trolling.

When Telstra advertise fast movie downloads on their Bigpond network, they're not necessarily any faster than other ISPs. They're simply plugging their service.

Isaac, no I am not. I can guarantee you that I am genuinely interested in everyone's opinions.

Is that how the other day people were genuinely interested in the concept of poaching?

Higher level talent might get approached by college teams. Mid level talent might need to be shopped around or given assistance, I'd assume. If someone or a club make that a bit of a focus, so be it - either a real or a perceived point of difference.

It's great that more and more players are looking to US College. They can get a free or subsidised degree and play basketball at a high level while doing it. There are a heap of young Sturt players that are looking to go that way (some are being actively recruited now), and we are helping by developing them as basketballers and citizens, providing contacts, and advising them on the best school for them when the time is right.

It is wrong for any club, Sturt, Norwood, whoever to suggest that players have a greater chance of getting a scholarship if you "play for us". Players from virtually every club are currently or have been in the US College system. Everyone has contacts. Every club has people that will help out. At the end of the day, the individual colleges will make up their own minds. We (the clubs) can help prepare them for that level of competition, help them in contacting potential colleges and provide advice to help them with their decisions.

SB - how are you helping your players "develop as citizens"? What specific things are you doing to achieve this?

We help with goal setting and time management so that they can do well at basketball, at school and also have time for friends and family. Achieving this balance will make them better at everything they do. The best US College programs look favourably upon good players who are also good human beings.

I agree SB. Developing basketballers will also develop citizens by improving social skills, teamwork skills, discipline etc

College for Austrlians is all about the experience. Obviously at college they train everyday, which improves the players skills greatly, and to play infront of larger crowds also helps. Time managment is also a big part of college, because the players have a good balance of study and basketball. Comparing it to adelaide, where the players have to juggle their own time with basketball and uni; which gets difficult sometimes.
Rupert is obviously encouraging the kids to go play college, and I think Sam and Max have both come back improved, and i'm sure they had a great time over there. They got their education and living paid for and got to play some high level basketball in a very professional manner. Win win situation if you ask me.

But that's not to say a particular kid couldn't have had the same opportunities at another club.

Seriously, if your selling point at a club is that you can offer better college opportunities, your club is ridiculously awful.

Besides, there's a kid from the persons ex-club (same age as Max) who is at college right now.

North, Southern, Sturt & Centrals all have or have had in very recent years people play college ball. What makes Rupert & Norwood so special?

It's just a horrible premise for recruiting a player. And the fashion it was done in... well, we won't go in to it.

Eastern has a boy there too at Augusta State Uni.

#136191, From the outset; sincerely, thanks for clearing that up. I do respect the fact that someone has finally associated themselves with the actions discussed and openly discuss what occurred.

Whilst I cannot agree with the first part of your post, we can finally agree on most of the things in the 2nd part of your post.

I really do appreciate your post though and thankyou for what you say. It's good to have some common ground for once, as they say there is a first time for everything.